ed on the moss…covered sloping rock； plunged； recovered herself； slipped again； and fell over on her side。 At her first slip； the young man was off his horse； and before the mare finally pitched forward was at her head； and had caught the girl from the saddle into his arms。 For a moment she lay there white and breathing hard。
〃My God； Kathleen！〃 he cried。 〃You are hurt？ You might have been killed。〃 His eyes burned like two blazing lights； his voice was husky； his face white。 Suddenly crushing her to him； he kissed her on the cheek and again on her lips。 The girl struggled to get free。
〃Oh； let me go； let me go；〃 she cried。 〃How can you； how can you？〃
But his arms were like steel about her； and again and again he continued to kiss her； until； suddenly relaxing； she lay white and shuddering in his arms。
〃Kathleen；〃 he said； his voice hoarse with passion； 〃I love you； I love you。 I want you。 Gott in Himmel； I want you。 Open your eyes； Kathleen； my darling。 Speak to me。 Open your eyes。 Look at me。 Tell me you love me。〃 But still she lay white and shuddering。 Suddenly he released her and set her on her feet。 She stood looking at him with quiet； searching eyes。
〃You love me；〃 she said； her voice low and quivering with a passionate scorn； 〃and you treat me so？ Let us go。〃 She moved toward her horse。
〃Kathleen； hear me；〃 he entreated。 〃You must hear me。 You shall hear me。〃 He caught her once more by the arm。 〃I forgot myself。 I saw you lying there so white。 How could I help it？ I meant no harm。 I have loved you since you were a little girl； since that day I saw you first herding the cattle。 You had a blue dress and long braids。 I loved you then。 I have loved you every day since。 I think of you and I dream of you。 The world is full of you。 I am offering you marriage。 I want you to be my wife。〃 The hands that clutched her arm were shaking； his voice was thick and broken。 But still she stood with her face turned from him； quietly trying to break from his grasp。 But no word did she speak。
〃Kathleen； I forgot myself；〃 he said； letting go of her arm。 〃I was wrong； but； my God； Kathleen； I am not stone； and when I felt your heart beat against mine〃
〃Oh；〃 she cried； shuddering and drawing further away from him。
〃and your face so white； your dear face so near mine； I forgot myself。〃
〃No；〃 said the girl； turning her face toward him and searching him with her quiet； steady； but contemptuous eyes； 〃you forgot me。〃
CHAPTER IX
EXCEPT HE STRIVE LAWFULLY
The Wolf Willow Dominion Day Celebration Committee were in session in the schoolhouse with the Reverend Evans Rhye in the chair； and all of the fifteen members in attendance。 The reports from the various sub…committees had been presented and approved。
The programme for the day was in the parson's hand。 〃A fine programme； ladies and gentlemen； thanks to you all； and especially to our friend here；〃 said Mr。 Rhye； placing his hand on Larry's shoulder。
A chorus of approval greeted his remark； but Larry protested。 〃Not at all。 Every one was keen to help。 We are all tremendous Canadians and eager to celebrate Dominion Day。〃
〃Well； let us go over it again；〃 said Mr。 Rhye。 〃The football match with the Eagle Hill boys is all right。 How about the polo match with the High River men； Larry？〃
〃The captain of the High River team wrote to express regret that two of his seniors would not be available； but that he hoped to give us a decent game。〃
〃There will only be one fault with the dinner and the tea； Mrs。 Kemp。〃
〃And what will that be； sir？〃 enquired Mrs。 Kemp； who happened to be Convener of the Refreshment Committee。
〃They will receive far too much for their money；〃 said Mr。 Rhye。 〃How about the evening entertainment； Larry？〃 he continued。
〃Everything is all right； I think； sir；〃 said Larry。
〃Are the minstrels in good form？〃 enquired Mrs。 Waring…Gaunt。 〃This is your last appearance； you know； and you must go out in a blaze of glory。〃
〃We hope to get through somehow；〃 said Larry。
〃And the speakers？〃 enquired Mr。 Rhye。
〃Both will be on hand。 Mr。 Gilchrist promises a patriotic address。 Mr。 Alvin P。 Jones will represent Wolf Willow in a kind of local glorification stunt。〃
〃This is all perfectly splendid；〃 said Mr。 Rhye； 〃and I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you all。 We ought to have a memorable day to…morrow。〃
And a memorable day it was。 The weather proved worthy of Alberta's best traditions； for it was sunny； with a fine sweeping breeze to temper the heat and to quicken the pulses with its life…bringing ozone fresh from the glacier gorges and the pine forests of the Rockies。
The captain of the Wolf Willow football team was awake and afoot soon after break of day that he might be in readiness for the Eagle Hill team when they arrived。 Sam was in his most optimistic mood。 His team； he knew； were in the finest condition and fit for their finest effort。 Everything promised victory。 But alas！ for Sam's hopes。 At nine o'clock a staggering blow fell when Vial； his partner on the right wing of the forward line； rode over with the news that Coleman； their star goal…keeper； their ultimate reliance on the defence line； had been stepped on by a horse and rendered useless for the day。 It was； indeed； a crushing calamity。 Sam spent an hour trying to dig up a substitute。 The only possible substitutes were Hepworth and Biggs； neither of them first class men but passable； and Fatty Rose。 The two former； however； had gone for the day to Calgary； and Fatty Rose was hopelessly slow。 Sam discussed the distressing situation with such members of the team as could be hastily got together。
〃Dere's dat new feller；〃 suggested Joe。
〃That's so；〃 said Vial； familiarly known as Bottles。 〃That chap Sykes； Farwell's friend。 He's a dandy dribbler。 He could take Cassap's place on left wing and let Cassap take goal。〃
With immense relief the team accepted this solution of the difficulty。 But gloom still covered Sam's face。 〃He's only been here two weeks；〃 he said； 〃and you know darn well the rule calls for four。〃
〃Oh； hang it！〃 said Bottles； 〃he's going to be a resident all right。 He's a real resident right now； and anyway； they won't know anything about it。〃
〃Oh； cut it out；〃 said Sam； suddenly flaring into wrath。 〃You know we can't do that sort of thing。 It ain't the game and we ain't goin' to do it。〃
〃What ain't the game？〃 enquired Larry； who had come upon the anxious and downcast group。
Farwell told him the calamitous news and explained the problem under discussion。 〃We'd play Sykes； only he hasn't been here a month yet； and Sam won't stand for it；〃 he said。
〃Of course Sam won't stand for it； and the Captain is right；〃 said Larry。 〃Is there nobody else； Sam？〃 Sam shook his head despondently。 〃Would I be any good； Sam？ I am not keen about it； but if you think I could take Cassap's place on left wing； he could take goal。〃
Sam brightened up a little。 〃Guess we can't do no better；〃 he said doubtfully。 〃I mean；〃 he added in answer to the shout of laughter from the team〃Aw； shut up； can that cackle。 We know the Master hates football an' this is goin' to be a real fightin' game。 He'll get all knocked about an' I don't want that。 You know he'll be takin' all kinds of chances。〃
〃Oh； quit； Sam。 I am in pretty good shape；〃 said Larry。 〃They can't kill me。 That's the best I can do anyway； so let's get to them。〃
The situation was sufficiently gloomy to stir Joe to his supremest efforts and to kindle Sam's spirit to a blazing flame。 〃We don't need Sykes nor nobody else；〃 he shouted to his men as they moved on to the field。 〃They can wear their boots out on that defence line of ours an' be derned to 'em。 An'； Bottles； you got to play the game of your life to…day。 None of your fancy embroidery； just plain knittin'。 Every feller on the ball an' every feller play to his man。 There'll be a lot of females hangin' around； but we don't want any frills for the girls to admire。 But all at it an' all the time。〃 Sam's little red eyes glowed with even a more fiery hue than usual； his rat…like face assumed its most belligerent aspect。
Before the match Larry took the Eagle Hill captain； a young Englishman who had been trying for ten years to make a living on a ranch far up among the foothills and was only beginning to succeed； to his mother； who had been persuaded to witness the game。 They found her in Kathleen's care and under instruction from young Farwell as to the fundamental principles of the game。 Near them a group of men were standing； among whom were Switzer； Waring…Gaunt； and Jack Romayne； listening to Farwell's dissertation。
〃You see； Mrs。 Gwynne；〃 he said； 〃no one may handle the ballhead； feet； body； may be used； but not the hands。〃
〃But I understand they sometimes hurt each other； Mr。 Farwell。〃
〃Oh； accidents will happen even on the farm； Mrs。 Gwynne。 For instance； Coleman this morning had a horse step on his foot； necessitating Larry's going on。〃
〃Is Lawrence going to play？〃 said Mrs。 Gwynne。 〃Ah； here he is。 Lawrence； are you in good condition？ You have not been playing。〃
〃I am not really very fit； Mother； not very hard； but I have been running a good deal。 I don't expect I shall be much use。 Sam is quite dubious about it。〃
〃He will be all right； Mrs。 Gwynne；〃 said Farwell confidently。 〃He is the fastest runner in the team。 If he were only twenty pounds heavier and if he were a bit more keen about the game he would be a star。〃
〃Why don't they play Sykes？〃 inquired Kathleen。 〃I heard some of the boys say this morning that Sykes was going to play。 He is quite wonderful； I believe。〃
〃He is；〃 replied Larry； 〃quite wonderful； but unfortunately he is not eligible。 But let me introduce Mr。 Duckworth； Captain of our enemy。〃
Mrs。 Gwynne received the young man with a bright smile。 〃I am sorry I cannot wish you victory； and all the more now that my own son is to be engaged。 But I don't understand； Larry；〃 she continued； 〃why Mr。 Sykes cannot play。〃
〃Why； because there's a League regulation； Mother； that makes a month's residence in the district necessary to a place on the team。 Unfortunately Sykes has been here only two weeks； and so